North Korean Defector to Sue Kim Jong Un for Abuse
A North Korean defector is filing civil and criminal charges against Kim Jong Un for abuses she faced while detained in the country.
A North Korean defector, Choi Min-kyung, is set to file civil and criminal charges against the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, for alleged sexual abuse and torture she endured after her forced repatriation from China in 2008.
This marks a significant development as it will be the first time a North Korean-born defector takes legal action against the regime, according to a South-based rights group assisting Choi.South Korean courts have previously ruled against North Korea on similar claims by South Koreans, but such verdicts are largely symbolic and ignored by Pyongyang.
The case names Kim Jong Un and four other Pyongyang officials.
Additionally, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) plans to take Choi's case to the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.Choi Min-kyung fled North Korea to China in 1997 but was forcibly repatriated in 2008.
She fled again in 2012 and settled in South Korea, where she continues to suffer from psychological trauma due to her experiences.
For years, international rights groups have documented alleged human rights violations by North Korea, including the abuse of political prisoners and systematic gender and class-based discrimination.The lawsuits are significant as they pursue criminal charges alongside civil cases, marking a shift from previous court actions against North Korea, which were limited to civil litigation.
In 2023, a Seoul court ordered North Korea to pay compensation to South Korean men who were exploited as prisoners of war during the Korean War.
Additionally, in 2024, the North Korean government was ordered to pay compensation to Korean Japanese defectors.While North Korea did not respond to these lawsuits, rights groups argue that receiving a court ruling in their favor carries significant meaning for victims, providing acknowledgment and recognition of their experiences.
This marks a significant development as it will be the first time a North Korean-born defector takes legal action against the regime, according to a South-based rights group assisting Choi.South Korean courts have previously ruled against North Korea on similar claims by South Koreans, but such verdicts are largely symbolic and ignored by Pyongyang.
The case names Kim Jong Un and four other Pyongyang officials.
Additionally, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) plans to take Choi's case to the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.Choi Min-kyung fled North Korea to China in 1997 but was forcibly repatriated in 2008.
She fled again in 2012 and settled in South Korea, where she continues to suffer from psychological trauma due to her experiences.
For years, international rights groups have documented alleged human rights violations by North Korea, including the abuse of political prisoners and systematic gender and class-based discrimination.The lawsuits are significant as they pursue criminal charges alongside civil cases, marking a shift from previous court actions against North Korea, which were limited to civil litigation.
In 2023, a Seoul court ordered North Korea to pay compensation to South Korean men who were exploited as prisoners of war during the Korean War.
Additionally, in 2024, the North Korean government was ordered to pay compensation to Korean Japanese defectors.While North Korea did not respond to these lawsuits, rights groups argue that receiving a court ruling in their favor carries significant meaning for victims, providing acknowledgment and recognition of their experiences.
